Material receiving, storing and discharging apparatus



Oct. 11, 1966 w, DENSMORE 3,278,062

MATERIAL RECEIVING, STORING AND DISCHARGING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 30, 1964 INVENTOR. NEAL W. DENSMORE BY (M MW ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,278,062 MATERIAL RECEIVING, STGRING AND DISCHARGING APPARATUS Neal W. Densmore, Franklin, Pa., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Sept. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 403,435 6 Claims. (Cl. 214-519) This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 360,593, filed April 17, 1964, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a storage apparatus and more particularly to a new and improved mobile material receiving, distributing, storing and discharging apparatus.

In the field of mining it has been the general practice to employ continuous miners or boring machines which penetrate the face of a mineral vein, such as coal for example, whereby a substantially steady flow of material is discharged at the rear of the machine. When shuttle cars are utilized as haulage means, two such cars are normally employed to alternately receive disintegrated mineral from the miner, transport it to a main haulage system, discharge the load and return to the miner for another load. Assuming that working conditions are ideal and the haulage distance is relatively short, the mining operation must nevertheless be interrupted during switching of loaded and empty shuttle cars (changing out) with respect to the miner, thus making a so-called continuous operation a cyclical one. By way of example, assume that a miner has an average discharge rate of four tons per minute and the change out time is one minute. It is apparent that some provision for the storage of four tons of material is necessary in order to allow the miner to continue its attack on the mineral vein while the shuttle cars are changing out, or alternatively, the miner must cease operation.

Another system requires the material to be dumped on the mine bottom immediately behind the mining machine. This system has the disadvantage of requiring an extra machine and man, specifically a loading machine and an operator therefor in order to service the shuttle car. Furthermore, the mining machine cannot readily be backed out of the working area in an emergency.

The general purpose of this invention is to overcome the above disadvantages by providing an apparatus that receives a steady flow of mined material, stores such material between shuttle car trips and quickly discharges the stored material into shuttle cars when they are available. It is readily apparent that such an apparatus allows the mining machine to operate continuously, thereby resulting in increased production. Furthermore, since the apparatus of the present invention receives the material directly from the mining machine, a cleaner mine bottom is maintained. Also contamination with rock and debris from the mine bottom is precluded.

A further advantage residing in the apparatus of this invention is that its mobility allows the mining machine to back out of the working area quickly in the event of an emergency. Moreover, roof bolting drills could be mounted on the apparatus of the present invention rather than the miner to preclude interference with production while the roof drilling is effected.

Still further advantages residing in the use of the apparatus of this invention are obtained by loading the shuttle car faster and more evenly than would normally occur when no such apparatus is employed.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved material receiving, distributing, storing and discharging apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved material receiving, storing and discharging apparatus having novel means for distributing a load of material received in such apparatus.

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It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved material receiving, distributing, storing and discharging apparatus having novel means for receiving material at a slow rate, distributing and storing the material in such apparatus and means for discharging such material rapidly.

It is another specific object of this invention to provide a new and improved material receiving, distributing, storing and discharging apparatus having novel means for ensuring that the material receiving end of said apparatus will be substantially evacuated before the remainder of such apparatus is emptied out.

It is still another specific object of this invention to provide a new and improved material receiving, distributing, storing and discharging apparatus having novel rotatable paddle means for distributing material in such apparatus and an endless flight conveyor for rapidly discharging the material from such apparatus.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following .detailed description thereof when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a fourth embodiment of the apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in the embodiment of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a modification of the distributing means of the structure shown in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of still another modification of the distributing means of the structure shown in FIGURE 1.

An embodiment of the material receiving, storing and discharging apparatus of this invention is shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2 and comprises a vehicle generally designated as having a body 152 supported by a suitable pair of propelling wheels 154 and a suitable pair of swivelly mounted steerable wheels 156. The body 152 defines a material receiving and storing compartment or hopper 158 and is provided with an endless flight discharge or delivery conveyor 162 that extends from a rearward point in the bottom of the hopper upwardly and rearwardly along the frame of the discharge section. The delivery conveyor is driven by suitable variable speed motor 164.

Hopper 158 comprises a deck or floor having a frustoconical shape indicated at 166 extending from a base portion 168 and terminating at its minimum diameter in a substantially vertically extending boss portion 170. Hopper 158 also comprises side walls 172 and 174 which diverge upwardly outwardly from base portion 168 and terminate in upper edges 1 7 6 and 178 respectively. The rear end portion of walls 172 and 17 4 define a passageway 180 for accommodating the discharge conveyor 162. A forward end wall 182 slopes upwardly and outwardly from base portion 168 and terminates in an upper edge 184.

Means, generally designated 186, are provided to slowly distribute the material received in the hopper, such means comprising a hub 188 rotatably mounted about boss portion 170 and coaxial therewith and having a plurality of elongated arms or paddle blades 190 extend-ing radially outwardly and slightly downwardly from said hub portion so that the bottom edges 192 thereof are disposed adjacent and parallel to the frusto-conical surface of the hopper deck in a substantially mating relationship therewith. Although the opposed surfaces of the hopper deck and blade edges are preferably inclined downwardly, it is to 'be appreciated that horizontal or any inclination of such surfaces are envisaged without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Suitable drive means (not shown) are preferably located in the boss portion 170 and operatively connected to hub 188 for the purpose of rotating the hub and blade assembly about a vertical axis. With reference to FIGURE 8, it will be seen that the pushing or material engaging faces 194- of blades 190 are disposed in a vertical relationship.

In operation, the vehicle is adapted to move along with and behind a continuous miner and to receive the disintegrated material which the latter discharges. Such material is evenly distributed throughout the hopper by rotation of the blades, and, if the operating cycle is properly timed, a shuttle car should appear before the hopper is completely full. Engagement of a shuttle car with the bumper initiates rapid operation of the delivery conveyor. When the shuttle car is loaded, it is backed away and disengaged from the bumper, thus terminating the operation of the delivery conveyor.

This invention has the advantage of employing a unitary structure for distributing material which is compact and simple in construction requiring a minimum number of parts, reliable in operation and easy to manufacture.

FIGURE 3 illustrates another modification of the distributing means of the structure shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, which comprises a plurality of elongated arms or paddle push blades 196 extending radially outwardly and downwardly from hub 198, said blades having faces 200 which are inclined upwardly obliquely from their bottom edges 202 to their upper edges 204. Upon rotation of the blade assembly in a counterclockwise direction or in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIGURE 9, blade face-s 200 will effect a force component angled upwardly as shown by the arrow B and will not only dis tributed the material to the far reaches of the hopper but will also crowd the material in the space directly above the blade assembly so as to maintain the material in the hopper at the same level.

FIGURE 4 illustrates still another modification of the distributing means of the structure shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, which comprises a plurality of curved arms or paddle blades 210 extending outwardly from hub 212, said blades having inclined curved faces 214. It should be noted that the portion of the blades remote from the hub are curved toward the direction of rotation. Upon rotation of the blade assembly in a counterclockwise direction or in the direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG- U R E 4, blade faces 214 will effect a force component inwardly and upwardly as shown by the arrow D to crowd the material inwardlyas well as upwardly and cause the load to heap in the central portion of the hopper.

The operation of the embodiments of FIGURES 3 and 4 are similar to that of FIGURE 1, excepting that the material will be maintained at the same level in the hopper by means of the modification of FIGURE 3 and the material will be caused to heap in the central portion of the hopper by means of the modification of FIGURE 4.

Regardless of arm or blade configuration, a low vertical profile for the blade is desirable to restrain the material from revolving in the hopper as much as possible. The arms slide under the load creating a shear plane above such arms and thereby effect an intermittent lifting action.

Preferred embodiments of the principles of this invention having been hereinabove described and illustrated, it is to be realized that variations in design may be applied without departing from the broad spirit and scope of this invention. It is therefore respectfully requested that this invention be interpreted as broadly as possible and be limited only by the prior art.

I claim:

1. A material handling apparatus comprising; a compartment having a first portion for receiving and gravitationally delivering material to a second portion of said compartment, said second portion being of a frusto-conical shape with a downwardly sloping surface, rotatable means mounted adjacent said second portion of said compartment for distributing material received from said first portion within said compartment, said rotatable means comprising a hub having a plurality of elongated blades extending radially outwardly therefrom and sloping downwardly in substantially mating relationship with said downwardly sloping surface, means for rotating said rotatable means about a vertical axis, and means located within a third portion of said compartment for discharging material from said compartment.

2. A material handling apparatus comprising; a compartment having a first portion for receiving and gravitationally delivering material to a second portion of said compartment, said second portion being of a frusto conical shape with a downwardly sloping surface, rotatable means mounted adjacent said second portion of said compartment for distributing material received from said first portion within said compartment, said rotatable means comprising a hub having a plurality of elongated blades extending radially outwardly therefrom, said blades having lower longitudinal edges, respectively, sloping downwardly in substantially mating relationship with said downwardly sloping surface, said blades having material engaging faces, respectively, that extend upwardly and obliquely from said lower edges, respectively means for rotating said rotatable means about a vertical axis, and means located within a third portion of said compartment for discharging material from said compartment.

3. A material handling apparatus comprising; a compartment having a first portion for receiving and gravitationally delivering material to a second portion of said compartment, said second portion being of a frust-o-conical shape with a downwardly sloping surface, rotatable means mounted adjacent said second portion of said compartment for distributing material received from said first portion within said compartment, said rotatable means comprising a hub having a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly therefrom, said blades having lower edges respectively, of a spiral curvature which are disposed adjacent to and parallel with said sloping surface, said blades having material engaging faces, respectively, that extend upwardly and obliquely from said lower edges, respectively, means for rotating said rotatable means about a vertical axis, and means located within a third portion of said compartment for discharging material from said compartment.

4. A movable material handling apparatus comprising: an elongated body defining a dished storage compartment having a bottom surface and one portion thereof for receiving and gravitationally delivering material onto said bottom surface of said compartment for storage therein; said body being supported by ground engaging propelling means; distributing means in said compartment rotatable about an axis of rotation extending upwardly from said bottom surface and having at least one arm portion extending outwardly away from said axis with an upwardly extended surface thereon, at least said arm portion being movable over and adjacent a substantial part of said bottom surface to distribute material throughout said compartment; and elongated material transporting means located adjacent another portion of said compartment and extending outwardly from said compartment to discharge material therefrom.

5. A movable material handling apparatus comprising: an elongated body defining a dished storage compartment having a bottom surface and one portion thereof for receiving and gravitationally delivering material onto said bottom surface of said compartment for storage therein; said body being supported by ground engaging propelling means; distributing means in said compartment rotatable about an axis of rotation extending upwardly from said bottom surface, said distributing means comprising a hub member and a plurality of circumferentially spaced arm portions extending outwardly from said hub and said arm portions having axially elongated surfaces thereon, respectively, at least said arm portions being movable over and adjacent a substantial part of said bottom 5 6 surface to distribute material throughout said compart- 2,187,330 1/ 1940 Rudd 21417.64 ment; and an elongated material transporting means 2,612,298 9/ 19521 Wearne 222r410 located adjacent another portion of said compartment and 2,612,363 9/1952 Lee 299-46 extending outwardly from said compartment to discharge 2,691,455 10/1954 [Bailey et a1 21483.32 X material therefrom. 5 2,770,354 11/ 1956 Morrison 214-1764 X 6. A movable material handling apparatus as set forth 3,043,453 7/1962 Rautio 214-17.8 in claim 4 wherein said bottom surface has a central por- 3,064,833 11/1962 Von Ruden 21417.64 tion extending upwardly and inwardly about said axis. 3,089,60 1 5/1963 Chaney et a1. 21483.32 X 3,155,247 11/1964 Patterson 21417.84 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner. 570,060 *10/1896 De La Sauce 214-406 HUGO SCHULZ, Exammeh 1,864,785 6/1932 Wilhfilmi 99-45 A, I. MAKAY, Assistant Examiner. 

5. A MOVABLE MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED BODY DEFINING A DISHED STORAGE COMPARTMENT HAVING A BOTTOM SURFACE AND ONE PORTION THEREOF FOR RECEIVING AND GRAVITATIONALLY DELIVERING MATERIAL ONTO SAID BOTTOM SURFACE OF SAID COMPARTMENT FOR STORAGE THEREIN; SAID BODY BEING SUPPORTED BY GROUND ENGAGING PROPELLING MEANS; DISTRIBUTING MEANS IN SAID COMPARTMENT ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS OF ROTATION EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BOTTOM SURFACE, SAID DISTRIBUTING MEANS COMPRISING A HUB MEMBER AND A PLURLITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED ARM PORTIONS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID HUB AND SAID ARM PORTIONS HAVING AXIALLY ELONGATED SURFACES THEREON, RESPECTIVELY, AT LEAST SAID ARM PORTIONS BEING MOVABLE OVER AND ADJACENT A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF SAID BOTTOM SURFACE TO DISTRIBUTE MATERIAL THROUGHOUT SAID COMPARTMENT; AND AN ELONGATED MATERIAL TRANSPORTING MEANS LOCATED ADJACENT ANOTHER PORTION OF SAID COMPARTMENT AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID COMPARTMENT TO DISCHARGE MATERIAL THEREFROM. 